Defending Ivy League Champion Bulldogs Announce 2008-09 Schedule

Aug 17, 2008

Aug. 17, 2008

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -
The defending Ivy League champion No. 74 Bulldogs announced their 2008-09 schedule. Yale's schedule is highlighted by challenging matches against four teams that made the NCAA Championships last year.

Coming off a season in which Yale captured the Ivy League Title with a perfect 7-0 record and participated in its first NCAA Tournament in school history, Yale will begin its fall schedule Sept. 26 in Philadelphia at the Cissie Leary Invitational. Senior Janet Kim will attempt to defend her title at this tournament.

The Bulldogs will play host to the Yale Invitational from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

Yale will kick off their spring schedule with four straight home matches including a scrimmage against Brown University.

On Feb. 7 and 8 the Bulldogs will travel to Michigan to take on both No. 53 Western Michigan and No. 19 University of Michigan, head coach Danielle Lund McNamara's alma mater. The Wolverines advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season.

The Bulldogs will then travel to Tennessee Feb. 21 and 22 for perhaps the most challenging part of their schedule where they will take on NCAA Tournament participants No. 24 Tennessee and No. 10 Vanderbilt, assistant coach Amanda Fish's alma mater.

"I'm extremely excited about the schedule we have this year," McNamara said. "The additions of Michigan, Vanderbilt and Tennessee highlight the increased level of our competition this season. In order for our team to continue improving and to reach our long term goals, it's essential that we play against the toughest opponents. It will be an added bonus for me to return to Ann Arbor and for Amanda to return to Nashville and play against our alma maters."

For their annual spring break trip, Yale will travel to Texas to take on No. 75 Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Houston.

The Bulldogs will attempt to extend their 12 match winning streak in the Ivy League and begin their defense of their Ivy League crown in Providence, RI against Brown Mar. 29.

Yale will then travel to Philadelphia, PA and Princeton, NJ to battle No. 65 Penn and No. 67 Princeton Apr. 3 and Apr. 4. The Bulldogs will play host to Columbia and Cornell Apr. 10 and Apr. 11 before traveling to Cambridge to take on Harvard. The Bulldogs will conclude their regular season at home against Dartmouth Apr. 19.

"The Ivy League is getting stronger and stronger every year in women's tennis and this season will be no exception," McNamara said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of defending our Ivy League Championship and taking our program to the next level. Our team's focus will be on making small improvements every time we step on the court or in the gym. The more we can enjoy the process of improvement the more successful we will be in the long run."

The 2008-09 season also marks the opening of Yale's renovated Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center. Further information on the dedication will be available shortly.